Switch mechanism for clocks



Nov; 14, 1967 R. A. RUEGGER 3,352,100

SWITCH MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Filed July 23, 1965 I NVENTOR. R/c HA ED A RL/EGGER BY Me;

United States Patent 3,352,100 SWITCH MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Richard A. Ruegger, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Timett C0rp., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 23, 1965, Ser. No. 474,273 2 Claims. (Cl. 58-41) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch structure having a switch member movable with a spring-driven shaft of a clock mechanism into contact with a stationary switch member for momentarily energizing a battery-powered motor to rotate a spring rewinding gear to rewind the main spring of the clock and for driving a cam member periodically into contact with the movable switch to raise the same out of contact with the stationary switch member.

A principal object of this invention is to provide in a clock of this character an improved switching mechanism for intermittently energizing a battery-powered motor to effect rewinding of the power spring for such clock.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a switching mechanism of this character a means which positively effects the making and breaking of the switch components for intermittently energizing a battery-powered motor.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a switching mechanism of this character a means for preventing the continuing unwinding of the power spring in the event of a power failure for the rewind motor.

Yet another and equally important object of this invention is in the provision in a switch mechanism of this character of an arrangement of parts which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and which produces an accurate and reliable clock mechanism.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the invention as incorporated in a battery-powered clock mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the switching mechanism embodied in the invention taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the switching mechanism in its contact making position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the switching mechanism in its disconnected position after it has effected the power rewinding of the clock main spring.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the arrangement of parts associated with the switching mechanism.

As the invention to be hereinafter described and claimed relates solely to a new and novel switching mechanism associated with a battery-powered spring-driven clock of the type well known in the art and as shown and described in United States Patent No. 3,113,639, I have omitted reference to and have not shown all of the standard clock elements such as gear trains and associated operative parts which make up no part of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, I show a battery-powered switching mechanism which includes a base plate 11. This base plate 11 is notched out as at 12, and provides a laterally extending partial wall 13 upon which is suitably mounted a battery-powered motor 14. This motor includes an elongated rotatable shaft 15 which is provided at its free end with a worm gear 16. This worm gear 16 has operative driving connection with a gear wheel 17 freely carried by a clock power spring-driven shaft 18.

As viewed in FIG. 2, a supporting bracket 19 is connected to the base plate 11 by means of screws 19 and the like, and is maintained in spaced relation with respect to the plate 11 by spacers 20.

The shaft 1 8 is journalled through the base plate 11 and bracket 19 and projects freely through a spring casing 21 which houses the clock power spring 22 (see FIG. 5). The connection between the shaft 18, the spring casing 21, and power spring 22, is fully described in the aforementioned'patent and therefore needs no further explanation except to bear in mind that the power spring 22 has one end 23 connected to the casing 21 and its opposite end 24 connected to the shaft 18, and the spring casing 21 is connected to and rotatable with the gear wheel 17, in any suitable manner such as is shown in FIG. 5.

Fixedly connected to one face of the gear wheel 17 is a cam plate 25. This cam plate 25 provides a pair of cam fingers 26 such as are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the cam fingers 26 are formed out of the peripheral edge of the cam plate 25 and extend in an opposite direction and have their free ends inclined, in the form of a ramp 26a, out of the normal plane of the cam plate 25.

Fixedly journalled on the shaft 18 is an elongated switch arm 27 preferably formed from a resilient electrical conductive material. The extremities of the arm 27 lie in a horizontal plane spaced from the cam plate 25 and extending outwardly from the shaft 18 into a position where they can be engaged by the inclined ends of the cam fingers 26.

Mounted on the underside of the bracket 19 by means of a screw and mounting block 28, is a substantially L- shaped switch finger or fixed contact 29. This switch finger 29 lies in a horizontal plane prescribed by ends of the switch arm 27 and, as such, is adapted to be engaged by either end of the switch arm 27 as the same is caused to rotate in a manner hereinafter described. It should be noted, that as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one edge 29' of the fixed contact 29 is tapered so as to slidably receive the engaging free ends of the switch arm 27 as it is rotated into contacting position (see FIG. 3).

In the operation of the device, the power spring 22 as it normally unwinds, will cause the shaft 18 to rotate. As the switch arm 27 is fixedly connected to the shaft 18, it will be caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. When either of the extremities of the switch arm 27 makes contact with the switch finger 29, a circuit is completed therethrough to. the battery, which energizes the motor 14 and effects rotation of the gear worm 16. The rotation of the gear worm 16, through its screw connection with the gear wheel 17 will cause rapid rotation of the gear wheel 17, and spring casing 21, in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The motor 14 will remain energized until one of the cam fingers 26 carried by the cam plate 25 is caused to rotate beneath the ends of the switch arm 27, raising the same out of contact with the switch finger 29, so as to break the circuit between the power source, which is the battery, and the motor 14.

Thus, it is seen that periodically the switching mechanism hereinbefore described will eflFect rewinding of the power spring and maintain continuous and positive operation of the clock.

In the event that the battery lacks sufiicient power to energize the motor 14 when the switch arm 27 engages the switch fiuger 29, the swich arm 27 will contact a raised stop 30 provided at one end of the L-shaped switch finger 29. This engagement will prevent the power spring 22 from becoming completely unwound, so that upon replacement of the battery, the motor 14 will be immediately energized until the cam fingers 26 raise the switch arm 27 over the stop 30 of the switch finger 29, and the clock is returned to its normal operative condition.

While but one switching arm 27 has been shown in the drawings and hereinbefore described, it is apparent that a plurality of equally spaced switching arms could be fixedly journalled on the shaft 18 so as to effect energization of the motor 14 and thus rewind the power spring 22 more frequently than when there is employed but a single switch arm. This modification would come within the inventive concepts of this invention.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch in the circuit of a spring rewinding mechanism for a clock having a power spring and a batterypowered electric motor rotatably driving a spring rewinding gear, including (a) a spring-driven clock shaft having one end of the power spring connected thereto for rotating the same in one direction, with the opposite end of the spring connected to the spring rewinding gear,

(b) an elongated first switch means carried by and rotatable with said spring-driven clock shaft,

() a stationary second switch means positioned in the path of movement of said first switch means as Cir the latter is caused to rotate with said spring driven clock shaft and contacted thereby to energize the battery-powered motor to rotate the spring rewinding gear in said one direction at a speed greater than the rotation of said shaft and said first switch means, and

(d) means having a ramp carried by the spring rewinding gear in an elevated position with respect thereto and rotated therewith in said one direction by the energized motor for raising said first switch means out of contact with said stationary second switch means to de-energize the motor of the spring rewinding mechanism, and for supporting said first switch means in its raised position until it is rotated by said spring-driven shaft to one side of said second switch means.

2. A switch for a spring rewinding mechanism of a clock as defined by claim 1 wherein said means carried by the spring rewinding gear comprises radially extending elevated peripheral arms providing cam surfaces for yieldably raising said first switch means out of contact with said second switch means to break the contact therebetween so as to deenergize the battery powered motor of the spring rewinding mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,689 10/ 1929 Lux. 3,031,837 5/1962 Horning. 3,050,931 8/1962 Homing. 3,267,659 8/ 1966 Hancock.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H. E. SPRINGBORN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SWITCH IN THE CIRCIT OF A SPRING REWINDING MECHANISM FOR A CLOCK HAVING A POWER STRING AND A BATTERYPOWDERED ELECTRIC MOTOR ROTATABLY DRIVING A SPRING REWINDING GEAR, INCLUDING (A) A SPRING-DRIVEN CLOCK SHAFT HAVING ONE END OF THE POWER SPRING CONNECTED THERETO FOR ROTATING THE SAME IN ONE DIRECTION, WITH THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SPRING CONNECTED TO THE SPRING REWINDING GEAR, (B) AN ELONGATED FIRST SWITCH MEANS CARRIED BY AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID SPRING-DRIVEN CLOCK SHAFT, (C) A STATIONARY SECOND SWITCH MEANS POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST SAID SPRING DRIVEN THE LATTER IS CAUSED TO ROTATE WITH SAID SPRING DRIVEN CLOCK SHAFT AND CONTACTED THEREBY TO ENERGIZED THE BATTERY-POWERDED MOTOR TO ROTATE THE SPRING REWINDING GEAR IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AT A SPEED GREATER THAN THE ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT AND SAID FIRST SWITCH MEANS, AND 